Murphys

Murphys is a charming gold rush town with many ‘up scale’ shops and art galleries as well as restaurants and shady parks along the strong flowing mill chase. This charismatic town is at the center of the Calaveras Wine Country with many award winning vineyards to choose from.

Murphys is located in Calaveras County, in the Sierra Nevada foothills approximately 75 miles east of Stockton. Take Highway 99 to Highway 4 and travel east through Farmington, Copperopolis and Angels Camp to the town of Murphys. Our Map of Murphys

Mercer Caverns are close by and well worth a visit. For more information visit Caverns in our Destination Guide. Miwok and early Murphys history can be explored at the Old Timers Museum at 470 Main Street in the historic Peter Traver building.

Mysteriously, each year around St. Patrick’s Day a huge green shamrock appears in the main intersection of the gold rush town of Murphys. It is said that the Irish supported with uninhibited glee the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. With a town name of “Murphys”, you can only expect a most befitting celebration. Murphys Irish Days

Every year on the first Saturday in October you will find a crowd gathered to watch and take part in the Annual October Wine Stomp. The event celebrates harvest and the rich wine industry of Calaveras County. Check out other annual events in the Mother Lode or for current events look at the calendar section.

This place is called Murphys because it was founded by the brothers John and Daniel Murphy after they discovered gold in 1849. The objective of many immigrants coming over the Sierras by Ebbetts Pass, Murphys Flat and surrounding mines produced 20 million dollars in gold. Early regulations restricted claims to 8 ft. square. A suspension flume conveying water across Murphys Creek and drainage race draining the flat were two outstanding accomplishments of early day miners.

The business portion of town was destroyed by fire August 20, 1859. The Peter L. Traver Building, a general store, was spared by the fire. Constructed in 1856, it is the oldest stone building in Murphys. Its iron shutters and sand on the roof protected it from the fires of 1874, and 1893 as well. Joaquin Murieta bandit is said to have begun his murderous career here. For more information visit this web site.

Some gold can still be found in the streams in this area and the gold bearing quartz veins can be found in slate and schist, and have mostly a rosy color.

The Murphys Hotel is one of the oldest hotels still operating in California. First named after James L. Sperry and John Perry on August 20, 1856, it was renamed the Mitchler Hotel in 1882. Notable guests include Mark Twain and former President Ulysses S. Grant. In 1945 it was named Murphys Hotel by the McKimins family. Since 2003 long-time Calaveras county resident Dorian Faught became the sixth owner of the Murphys Hotel.

Murphys Zip Code: 95247

US Post Office –
140 Big Trees Road
209-728-2113

• Big Trees
• Golf
• Mercer Caverns
• Feeney Park
• Heritage Museum
• Murphys Old Timers Museum
• Rock hounding
• Wineries